Turkey cabinet agrees to extend emergency after referendum

The deputy prime minister said the decision was not made to give the Turkish government free rein but because of its "fight against terrorist groups".

The Turkish cabinet agreed late Monday to extend for another three months the state of emergency imposed after last July's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the deputy premier said.

The Turkish government has chose to extend a state of emergency for another three months upon the recommendation of the National Security Board (MGK), a day after a key referendum overhauling Turkey's governance system was narrowly approved. Kurtulmuş said the cabinet approved the advice of the MGK for the extension of the state of emergency and that parliament was expected to vote on it on April 18.

According to the Turkish Constitution, a state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months. But if there is an issue, which requires a constitutional amendment and if the necessary majority is reached in the Parliament, the Parliament will take care of this issue, if there is no majority, we will refer to the people.

Under the state of emergency, over 47,000 people have been arrested on suspicion of links to the July 15 attempted coup, while the government has embarked on a mass lustration campaign across the public and the private sector, ensuring the dismissal of police officers, academics, journalists, teachers, judges, and prosecutors.

On January 19, State of Emergency was extended for the second time and with approval of the cabinet decision by the TBMM, it will be extended for the third time.

On October 19, three-months long State of Emergency which ended, was extended for three more months.